"Ten dollars."
"Then go ahead."
The safe opener was soon at work. He turned the knob around slowly, listening intently in the meanwhile. He worked thus for perhaps ten minutes, when the door to the safe came open without an effort.
Mrs. Bangs was disappointed. She had expected that the safe would have to be blown open in the most approved burglar fashion, and was wondering what bill for damages she could render.
"You must have known the combination," she said, tartly, to the safe opener.
"This is my business," was the quiet answer.
The constable, with Mr. Bartlett's aid, went through all the papers in the safe. Of course the all-important documents were not found.
"Well?" asked the lawyer, after a long wait.
"They are not here," replied Mr. Bartlett. He felt sick at heart over his failure to bring the papers to light.
"Not here!"